I have a 2007 Toyota Tacoma with a little over 60,000 mile son it. Yesterday I drove a short distance to a store and when went to return home the ignition key which goes into the right hand side of the steering column would not turn. It would wiggle back and forth a little but not turn far enough to engage the starter. After fooling with it for a while it finally started. I have started it a few times today and had no problem. The thing that really concerns me is that I often use this vehicle in some rather remote places where I would hate to be stranded. Does anyone have any thoughts or recommendations?

Is it the original or Tacoma key or a copy?

I think my son had the same problem in his 2002, I’m waiting on a response from him and I will let you know . Is it a manual transmission or a automatic?

Was the steering jammed with pressure on a tire maybe like a parking block/curb putting pressure on the steering column?

X2...try wiggling/turning the steering wheel at the same time you turn the key.

Yes. My Silverado gets the steering in a bind and I just turn it a little back and forth and the key will turn.

My first thought is that the steering linkage was in somewhat of a bind causing resistance to the key turning. I have had that happen occasionally when I had a Taco and also with a Tundra.
Does not take much movement of the steering wheel to release the pressure so the key can turn.

I was driving my 2000 frontier and a two year old pulled the key out of the ignition. No biggie...I took the key and stuck it back in. Engine never missed a lick.
I parked it. Next day I had the same situation you describe.

No matter how I reefed on the wheel nothing happened.

Tried a different key......no joy.

So I pulled the ignition switch ( not an enjoyable thing) and found a slot in the steering column and a lug on the bottom of the switch that drops through the column when the switch is turned to OFF.

I cut a piece of a coke can ( the radius was close) and laid it over the slot so the lug can't drop through.
Never had another problem and the steering won't lock when the switch is OFF.

A forever fix.

You might also need to tinker with the adjustment on the rod that runs up from the brake pedal to the under side of the steering column...............if it's an automatic.

Original key.

The truck was parked on a perfectly flat surface and no curb.

I have had the steering binding up the switch on a flat concrete driveway. If the key does not turn, I wiggle the wheel to free it up. Never had that fail to work.

I'm no mechanic.

but is it a manual or auto trans?

My son has a 2002 and had the same problem he thought it was the lock cylinder so he replaced it then it happened again then replaced the neutral safety switch no problems since he replaced it .
Forgot to say his is an automatic .

I have a 96 4 runner sitting right now because the ignition switch will not turn . The locksmith said sometimes a newly cut key will work ( something about tumblers or similar ) so I tried that , but still no dice. Gonna have to replace the ignition if I can ever find time

if it happens again move the gear shift to neutral

my 2001 E350 did this in park 99% of the time fine but when it didn't want to start in park foot on brake , move to neutral and start right up

at least the ford hat 2 switches to show it was in park or neutral the park switch about 17 years in got flaky

Maybe a Starting control linkage connecting issue or an antitheft.
1) anti theft systems. Most 2007s have them imbedded in the key. The key doesn’t usually go bad but the vehicle control mod does. Try to pull the antitheft fuse or pull the neg batt cable for a min or two.

2) linkage issue may be from the key tumbler, may be a linkage to a control module or the control module if Toyotas have them. Most domestic do but I forget about foreign. Ez test is to move the steering wheel adjustment down (or up) if you have one.

May give you a direction to go.

Had the same thing happen to a dodge van I had years ago. Got mad took a pair of pliers and made it turn . Never had anymore problems.

It's an automatic transmission .

If it does not help twisting the wheel, pull it into drive and back to park and then try it.

Two things to look at -

The ignition is kinda two parts. There is the mechanism for the key or ignition lock. Mated to it is the electrical switch that the mechanism turns when the key is turned.

Take a look at both parts separately when removing them. If one or the other is having an issue , the mated pair will have problems
Very common.